HR0840

LRB093 21921 KEF 50077 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Diesel emissions have the potential to cause 
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adverse health effects such as asthma, chronic obstructive 
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pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, and lung cancer; and
 
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    WHEREAS, There are few other sources of air pollution in 
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our environment that are so widespread and toxic as diesel 
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emissions; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Emissions from diesel vehicles can cause serious 
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air pollution; and


 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection 
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Agency,  the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the 
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American Lung Association have shown that exposure to diesel 
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exhaust increases the frequency of asthma attacks and other 
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respiratory illness; and


 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. EPA has found diesel exhaust to be a 
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likely carcinogen; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A national estimate of cancer risk from diesel 
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exhaust found that diesel exhaust is the number one air toxics 
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cancer risk in the U.S.; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The air inside a diesel-fueled school bus can be 
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up to 15 times more polluted than the air outside the bus; and


 
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    WHEREAS, The vast majority, more than eighty percent, of 
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school buses in Illinois are diesel-fueled; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Children spend, on average, an hour and half on 
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school buses each day; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Asthma is the most common chronic illness in 
 


 






HR0840
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LRB093 21921 KEF 50077 r




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children and the leading cause of school absences; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the 
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United States, affecting an estimated 20 million people; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Nearly 300,000 children in the State of Illinois 
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suffer from asthma; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Asthma is the leading cause of childhood 
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hospitalizations in the State of Illinois; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Nearly 300 Illinois citizens died from asthma 
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related deaths in 2003; and
 
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    WHEREAS, This body recognizes that the health and wellbeing 
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of each and every citizen of this State is important;


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therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that  we 
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proclaim May 4th, 2004, as Illinois Clean Air and Asthma 
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Awareness Day;

and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That on Illinois Clean Air and Asthma Awareness 
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Day, awareness will be made that school bus idling is a major 
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cause of diesel exhaust pollution in school zones;
and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That efforts should be made to reduce school bus 
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idling on this day and every day to increase the health and 
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well-being of all Illinois citizens, especially children.